NFL bans 10 helmet models, Brady and Brees among those impacted

The NFL and NFLPA on Monday announced they are prohibiting 10 models of helmets worn by players in 2017 based on the results of an annual laboratory study of helmet performance.

According to a joint release on April 16, NFL players previously could choose any helmet so long as that model passed current National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment certification standards.

According to the release: "The prohibited helmets perform poorly in laboratory testing, have been discontinued by the manufacturer, or were produced by companies no longer manufacturing football helmets."

Of the 10 prohibited models, six are no longer being manufactured and thus are banned immediately. The other four models can be worn in 2018, but only by players who wore the model in 2017. The phase-out of all 10 helmets will be complete in 2019, according to NFL.com's Tom Pelissero.

According to The MMQB reporter Albert Breer, Tom Brady and Drew Brees are among the players who have worn a helmet now on the prohibited list.

The goal of the study is to determine how helmets perform in the area of reduced head impact severity. Thirty-four models were included in the study.

According to a story by NFL.com, about 200 players wore one of the 10 banned models in 2017. Citing Pelissero, the story added that "the NFL and NFLPA expect many of those players will stop wearing those helmets immediately."